Chapter 155

"Kid, Kairos... do you still have that thing that can heal deep internal wounds?"

Whitebeard's question came with an unusual seriousness.

Only those who have truly experienced such healing would understand how powerful it is.

Whitebeard himself couldn't resist its appeal.

His strength had sharply declined over the years. And as much as he hated to admit it, none of his sons—none of them, not even Marco—gave him peace of mind. Not because of disloyalty, but because not one of them had reached the level of an Emperor.

And he was growing old.

If he died without leaving behind even one Emperor-level successor, then the Whitebeard Pirates would become nothing more than a fat, juicy target in the eyes of every opportunistic scoundrel on the seas.

Of course, there were always a few who clung to notions of honor and morality...

But in the pirate world?

99% didn't give a damn about those things.

"Are you talking about body crystals?" Kairos asked, smiling faintly. "Of course I have them."

The fish had taken the bait.

Kairos hadn't expected Whitebeard to walk into his trap so smoothly.

Then again, he had set it deliberately.

He knew exactly how to tempt the legendary pirate.

"How much?" Whitebeard asked, staring at Kairos with unwavering eyes.

He just wanted to protect his sons a little longer. He couldn't stop the creeping decay of age or the accumulation of old injuries. But this... this was a chance to resist both.

"A pirate with a bounty of one billion beli, in exchange for one body crystal," Kairos replied, raising a single finger.

He didn't expect Whitebeard to grovel or worship him like a subordinate would.

From the start, Kairos had planned to use Whitebeard.

He wanted to leverage the man's power and influence to collect more ability crystals for himself.

And this was the perfect opportunity.

Even though the price was outrageous, Whitebeard paused and thought it over.

If a body crystal could heal hidden wounds and even offer a slight boost in strength... perhaps it was worth it.

"I'll capture enough pirates to pay the price," Whitebeard replied.

Despite having lost his beard—his very symbol—he knew this matter was too important to dismiss lightly.

"Then I'll wait," Kairos said calmly. "But remember—you have to pay off your existing debt before you even think about discussing body crystals."

His words weren't just a reminder. They were a warning.

Whitebeard needed to settle what he owed first. No exceptions.

"I understand," Whitebeard said quietly.

With that, he gathered his sons and returned to the Moby Dick.

Of everyone involved today, he was the most humiliated. He had lost to Kairos Flint. Lost his prized weapon, Cong Yunqie. Lost the crescent-shaped white beard that had been part of his identity for decades.

But worst of all...

He'd lost face in front of his sons.

As a father, and as a captain, there was nothing more shameful than showing weakness in front of the very people who looked up to you.

Luckily, it was all over now.

The situation, for the moment, was settled.

Back on the Mythical Sky, Kairos Flint was preparing for something else entirely.

"Wait here and handle any trouble that comes up. I've got something urgent to take care of," Kairos told Nami and the others.

Under their watchful eyes, he walked toward his quarters.

Open the door.

Step inside.

Close the door.

Simple and clean.

A few seconds of privacy—something he'd been needing.

Then, from his storage space, he retrieved two swords.

One was Cong Yunqie, taken from Whitebeard.

The other, his own beloved Third Generation Kitetsu.

Holding them both, one in each hand, Kairos said in his heart:

"Synthesize."

It had been a while since he'd last used the synthesis function.

Well, not that long, but a lot had happened recently, which made it feel like an eternity.

As the process began, Kairos could feel his physical energy draining rapidly.

But for someone whose body had already ascended to the level of a true god, even the exhaustion of a fight with Whitebeard was nothing to him now.

This synthesis?

It would be his easiest yet.

Time passed.

Long minutes, heavy with anticipation.

Finally, the synthesis completed.

Cong Yunqie had vanished—completely absorbed into the Third Generation Kitetsu.

The transformation was immediate.

The Kitetsu's blade now shimmered with a terrifying new aura.

For any experienced swordsman, it would be obvious at a glance—this was no ordinary weapon.

The Third Generation Kitetsu had evolved.

It had reached the realm of the Supreme Grade Swords!

The once-cursed blade, now reforged with the essence of Cong Yunqie, had transcended into something legendary.

If even this fusion hadn't pushed it to the Supreme Grade, then the blade would have been an embarrassment to its lineage.

But no.

Now it stood tall.

The Supreme Blade—Third Generation Ghost Tetsu!

Kairos Flint gripped it silently in his hand.

Power surged within it. Yet, in his grasp, even this supreme weapon remained obedient.

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